Non-spill pocket



July 1, 1958 N. B. HORNER 2,840,824

NON-SPILL POCKET Filed Nov. 22, 1955 INVENTOR: NADINE B. HORNER as Y 441M24 zgw.@ View ATT'YS NON-SPELL POQKET Nadine B. Hornet", Chicago, Ill. Application November 22, 1955, Serial li o. 543,314

3 Claims. (Cl. 2- 247) This invention relates to pockets for sport shirts, work clothes and other garments worn on the upper part of a persons body and more particularly to a pocket which will prevent objects inserted therein from spilling out when the pocket is inverted.

In a number of sports, such as bowling or golf, cigarettes, matches, lighters, tees and other such objects are carried in the shirt pocket. When the wearer leans forward in the normal course of his activities, these articles spill out, so that considerable inconvenience and annoyance is involved in reinserting them in the pocket. The same applies to the breast pockets of work shirts, coveralls, jackets and similar garments where articles normally carried in the pockets are apt to spill when the wearer bends forward.

Various attempts have been made to meet this problem, besides the ordinary button-down fiap, without a satisfactory solution. For example, spring or rubber flap closing means have been used, butthese create an unsightly bulge. Double or converging flaps have been provided within the pocket, but these cling tothe pocket walls and so release the articles accidentally. Inturned flaps with cut-out access openings therein have been tried, wherein the flap extends for substantially thelength of the pocket. However, this construction is useless in retaining an item such as a package of cigarettes or a lighter in the pocket. Snap fastener means for a pocket flap have been suggested, but these are more expensive and difficult to use than buttons. Another device which has been attempted is a flap turned into the pocket. Although this is more effective than the previous constructions, it fails to close the pocket completely.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved pocket for upper body garments which permits objects to be inserted therein without any extra effort andwhich retains the objects against, accidental spilling without the use of mechanical deviccs such as snaps or buttons or spring means which spoil the appearance of the garment, particularly when it is a shirt.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved pocket for sport shirts and other garments whose outer Wall or panel is provided with an inwardly-turned flap extending within the pocket at predetermined distance, substantially less than the depth of the pocket, and a tacked or stitched fastening on each side of the flap spaced inwardly from the vertical flap edges a distance sufficient to hold the flap in normally closed engagement with the body of the shirt.

Another object of the invention is to providet-acking of the type indicated wherein each tack or flap actuating stitch is disposed inwardly from the flap edges a distance such as to form an access opening therebetween which is: iciently wide t p m t. o nary use of the. Po k I titted ht ates Patent Another object of the invention is to provide a method of forming a panel pocket wherein the flap, as described, is secured to the body of the shirt and a fold line is formed between the flap and the remainder of the outer pocket wall which is then stitched to the shirt body so that the same stitching secures both the side margins of the flap and the side margins of the pocket.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be come apparent from the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view, partly broken away, of a pocket according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 2;--2 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the pocket of the invention.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 3, the pocket til coinprises a rectangular front wall or panel 12, a rectangular flap 14 formed integrally with panel 12 and an inner wall 16, which is an integral portion of a shirt The panel 12 is relatively wider than the flap 14, to provide hem margins 2t} and 22 which are turned inwardly against the inner wall of the panel so that finished panel edges 24 and 26 are thus formed which are only slightly beyond the edges 28 and 30 of the flap, as shown. A fold line 32 between the panel 12. and the flap 14 constitutes the upper edge of the pocket, and the flap extends downwardly into the pocket back of the inturned hem margins 24 and 26. The panel 12 and liap M are preferably made of the same flexible material as the shirt itself and, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a stitch line 35 may be sewn in closely spaced parallel relation to the fold line 32. to preserve the sharp contour of the edge and, to brace the upper edge of the panel 12 so that it will not balloon outwardly. in relation to the flap 14.

The lower edges of thepocket are also made straight and even by folding mar ns Etland under the panel 12, and a line of stitching may be hemmed around. the entire side and bottom periphery of the pocket to fasten the panel 12 to the shirt body 18, as well the marginal. side edges ofthe l t between the interned margins 20 and 22 and the body. aterial shirt.

In order to achieve the p.- ose of providing an access opening for the pocket and closure means for: retaining objects in the pocket when it is inverted; a. n of tacks or, stitch fastenings are made betwen the flap 12 and the inner wall of the pocket. T tacks or stitchings'are preferably in close pro:-;imate. relationship to lower edge of the flap, and in predetermined spaced relatio to the side edges 12-4 and 26 of the poc et, assunnag t nemline to be uhstantially coincident with these side edges as is-standerd practice.

in a preferred embodirncn tance of tack rorn edge 46 from edge 23. is substantiall width, and, in any case, the s asto ensure that the lower flap ed will no held in snug. engagementwith ti o i. 16f pocke w Correspondingly, the distance between the t2 46 in the preferred embodiment will be three-fourths of the poc et width, The access 0 between the tacks will hereinafter bedesignated b ence numeral 54 and it will be readily understood t the proportiops set forth maybe varied somewhat w. thin the limits imposed by the twin requirements. that the a ss oming 5 he u fid s-fly Wide. to ec e such objectsas are inserted in apocket during ordinary use, such as cigarette packages, lighters and the like, that h ce s. p n n e P e e om. s p s. pe xcept when theobjects are being inserted therethrough.

It is necessary. that the pocket depth belo H lower flap edge 48 be greater. than the height of .oojec. s to be received'in the pocket, s that the objects will he held so it beneath the lower edge of the flap. It is, therefore, preferred that the depth of the pocket between the bottom of the pocket as defined by the lower end edges 34 and 36, and the flap edge 48, be substantially greater than the vertical dimension of the flap 14 so that the vertical dimension of the flap will be substantialiy less than hall; the height of the panel 12. Thus, when a given a icle is fully inserted in the pocket, the flap 14, bein normally held against the back 16 of the pocket by the tack points 44 and 46, will act as a closure above the t when the wearer leans forward, as in bowli g or g l, the article will be trapped and there will be no possibility of the article accidentally dropping out. This will be true even where the forward body motion, as in bowling, throws the article or objects outwardly with conii force.

The relative depth of the pocket will also provide a substantial amount of space between the top of the objects retained therein and the flap edge 48, so that there \viil be no interference with extracting the objects, and the placement of the tacks id and 46 immediately adjacent the edge 43 also aids in easy extraction because there will be no loose material to occlude access opening 52 when the users fingers are inserted to extract an article.

In a pocket according to the invention for use with a sport shirt, for example, the width of the pocket and flap 14 is six inches and the spacing of the tacks 44 and 46 from the respective edges 24 and 26 nearest thereto is three-fourths of an inch so that the width of the access opening 50 is four and one-half inches. The tacks are substantially contiguous with edge 48 of the flap. The vertical dimension of the flap is two and one-half inches and the depth of the pocket below the flap is four inches in accordance with the requirement that this dimension be substantially greater than the distance that the flap extends into the pocket. In the example given, the pocket will receive and hold king-size cigarettes, and the same result can be accomplished where smaller pockets are used, since the flap can have any depth sufficient to insure an adequateclosure for the pocket.

In manufacturing the pocket, the panel 12 is inverted and the flap 14 depending therefrom, is placed against the body of the shirt 16 with the face of panel 12, which would face outwardly in the finished product, disposed next to the shirt. Thereupon the flap is secured to the shirt by means of the tacks 44 and 46, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, and the panel 12 is then pivoted downwardly into overlying relation with the flap. The fold line 32.

which extends between the upper ends of panel flanges 20 and 22 is preferably formed prior to fastening the flap to the shirt, so that stitching 33 can be made without difficulty, although where the stitching line 33 is omitted, as may be done, the fold line can be made after fastening the flap if it is so desired. Likewise, the margins 20 and 22, as well as margins 34 and 36, can be folded into underlying relation with panel 12, either before or after the flap is fastened to the shirt, but since the folding will generally be accomplished by ironing the material, it is vices, but which nevertheless is adapted to retain objects inserted in the pocket with an even greater degree of security than has been heretofore available. The flap, which is secured to the body of the shirt, not only guides the articles as they are inserted through the access open- .ing but also serves to maintain a neat and attractive appearance for the shirt at all times. Furthermore, the articles can be placed in the pocket or withdrawn therefrom as easily as can be done with an ordinary pocket. A further advantage of my improved pocket construction lies in thefact that a pencil, pen or other relatively long and narrow article which would project above the top of the pocket, may be carried in the pocket without in any way detracting from the trap action of the flap by merely inserting such article through the space at the side of the pocket afforded by the inward position of the tack points 44 and 46.

Although I have herein set forth and described a specific embodiment of my invention with respect to certain details and principles thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that these may be modified in various ways without departing from the scope and spirit or" the invention, as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a shirt or similar garment, a non-spill open top pocket comprising a flexible front wall panel, secured along the side and bottom edges to the shirt, a flap secured to and extending downwardly from the upper edge of said panel a predetermined material distance between said panel and the skirt, a tack stitch disposed on each side of said flap adjacent to the lower edge of said flap and in predetermined spaced relation to the side edges of said flap and fastening the flap to said shirt, the means securing the marginal side edges of said panel to the shirt also securing the marginal side edges of the flap to said shirt in superposed relation, said tack stitches defining an access opening into the pocket therebetween and holding said access opening in normally closed position, whereby objects inserted into said pocket through said access opening are retained in said pocket insubstantially all positions thereof.

2. In a shirt or similar garment, a non-spill open top pocket comprising a flexible front wall panel, secured along the side and bottom edges to the shirt, a flap secured to and extending downwardly from the upper edge of said panel a predetermined material distance between said panel and the shirt, a tack stitch disposed on each side of said flap adjacent to the lower edge of said flap and in predetermined spaced relation to the side edges of said flap and fastening the flap to said shirt, and means securing the marginal side edges of the flap to said shirt, said tack stitches defining an access opening into the pocket therebetween and holding said access opening in normally closed position, whereby objects inserted into said pocket through said access opening are retained in said pocket in substantially all positions thereof.

3. In a shirt or similar garment, a non-spill open top pocket comprising a flexible front wall panel, secured along the side and bottom edges to the shirt, a generally rectangular flap substantially the width of the pocket secured to and extending downwardly from the upper edge of said panel a predetermined material distance between said panel and the shirt, and stitching disposed on each side of said flap adjacent to the lower edge corners of said flap and in spaced relation to the side edges of said flap and fastening the flap to said shirt, said stitching defining an access opening into the pocket therebetween and holding the lower edge of said flap against said shirt in position to normally close said opening, whereby objects inserted into said pocket through said access opening are retained in said pocket in substantially all positions thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 666,289 Vineberg Ian. 22, 1901 1,878,324 Reitz Sept. 20, 1932 2,385,163 Riedel Sept. 18, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 521,431 Great Britain May 31, 1940 740,529 Great Britain Nov. 16, 1955 

